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About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and... (More)

About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and saved my barbs for my Commentary page. I had some political differences with the City Council at that time and particularly with the majority dubbed "The Gang of Three," by the San Ramon Valley Times. In 2003 new Council members were elected and the Council was more balanced and fiscally conservative, but I continued to write the Observer until 2009. At that point I decided I wanted to concentrate on my commentaries. So I requested a meeting with the editor and publisher of the Danville Weekly about taking over the San Ramon Observer. My timing was very apropos since the parent company, Embarcadero Media, was planning to release an online San Ramon Express that April. I was offered a "blog" under the name "San Ramon Observer" for my commentaries. I like to inform residents about what is happening in San Ramon, especially on city government and local politics. When I don't have anything to write about on those topics, I just write about anything I am doing or thinking about. (Hide)

Here's to the Victors

Uploaded: Dec 11, 2013

Last night the victors in the November election were sworn in to officially take their seats on the City Council. With the passage of Measures D and E to go to even year elections, the next election won't be held until 2016. So Mayor Clarkson was reelected for the next three years and Councilman Dave Hudson for the next five years. Newly elected Councilman Harry Sachs will also serve five years.

The City holds the Swearing-in event at the Community Center, and while it is a public City Council meeting, supporters of the candidates are invited to a reception after the Council meeting. In past years I received an invitation in the mail. This year either I wasn't on the list or the invitation is buried in my pile of holiday mail. So Councilman Dave Hudson delivered an invitation to me in person.

All three of the candidates I endorsed were victors but I wanted to go for another reason, to see another Victor. Two years ago, at the swearing in of Councilman Phil O'Loane and Mayor Bill Clarkson, Victor Petersen asked if I was still writing my San Ramon Observer. I was disappointed that Victor wasn't still reading it. So this time I wore my "Read the San Ramon Observer in the San Ramon Express" T-shirt and I just ordered more shirts, which are available at cost for anyone who wants one.

I was planning to look for Victor Petersen when I got there, but he came over to me first. Victor came to tell me he just retired and is staring a handyman business. I really needed that last year, when handymen were quitting on me in the middle of jobs or changing the dates they could come. It is so hard to find a good, reliable, honest handyperson. My neighbor, Luigi, has been helping me out, but I will definitely call Victor when I need more work done and Luigi isn't available.

In 2002 when I started my original San Ramon Observer online "newspaper " Victor Petersen kept me honest. I had political reasons for starting The Observer, but I also wanted to report local news that we didn't get enough of in the Contra Costa Times or even the San Ramon Valley Times, which tended to just repeat a lot of what was in the CC Times. My San Ramon Observer was like a one-person, homemade San Ramon Express. I tried to cover everything, news, commentary, even lost pets.

Victor used to comment on my news stories and criticize me when I was not being objective. He also criticized my Commentaries, but news is supposed to be objective and commentaries are supposed to be opinions. He helped me report the news free from political slant.

I received complements in the supermarket for how objective and unbiased the news portions of my website were. When I started writing for the Express, I mostly wrote news stories. They were rather dry, but they were facts without spin. Now that I am a blogger I can spin my opinions whichever way I want.

Express Publisher, Gina Channell-Allen was covering the event. I saw her in the front row taking a lot of photos, but the lighting wasn't good and her photos were not coming out as clear as she wanted. She asked me if I took any photos.

I didn't bring a camera with me, but I had a cell phone. It has a camera built in, but I don't know how to use it. I'm really fuddled by some of the new technology today, cell phones in particular. I've never used one for taking pictures.

Outgoing Councilmember Jim Livingstone was given a tearful farewell, starting with Pat Perry, San Ramon's first Poet Laureate. Perry read a poem she composed to honor Councilman Livingstone. Jim teared up and sniffled his way through the rest of his farewell speech.

City Clerk Pat Edwards who is also retiring this year, presented Jim with hats and shirts with the City logo and Oakland A's logos. Jim thanked everyone, especially long-time staff members and former City Manager Herb Moniz, and reelected Councilman Dave Hudson.

Jim went on to praise Hudson. "Mr. Hudson, Mr. San Ramon, always makes informed decisions." Jim was critical of the other Councilmembers who supported Dave's opposition candidate. "They should know better," he said, looking at Mayor Bill Clarkson and Councilman Phil O'Loane. Councilman Scott Perkins also endorsed Dave's opposition, but he was absent from the meeting.

Jim also supports the proposed HOV ramps on Norris Canyon Road and said these should not be stopped by a small group of residents. They should be ashamed of themselves.

I agree with Jim on that, but I disagreed that holding the election this year was a waste of money. Dave Hudson probably would not have been reelected if the election was held next year. Voters would have resented switching to even years without giving us the opportunity to vote on it again.

I sat next to Dan Lee, Dave Hudson's Campaign Manager. Dave ran a very clean campaign, with no attacks on any of his opponents. Lee said that hurt Dave on Election Day; most of Dave's votes were cast in the absentee ballots. "Negative campaigning works," he said, referring to a flyer sent out supporting one of Dave's opponents. That's a sad commentary on what influences voters, but I respect Dave for taking the high road.

Harry Sachs also won without negative campaigning. He took the Oath of Office with his wife and children by his side, and then took the seat of the retiring Jim Livingstone. Except for Harry taking over for Jim, there are no major changes in the Council makeup. We shall see how that affects Council decisions over the next three years.

Posted by mloliver,
a resident of San Ramon,
on Dec 12, 2013 at 9:35 am

I'm very sorry I couldn't make it to the swearing in. I hated to miss it! Thank you for the blog, and thank you for noting that neither Dave nor Harry campaigned negatively. I know how hard it is to stay positive in a campaign when one is being attacked with innuendoes, exaggerations, and sometimes outright untruths. I, too, am supportive of the new council. I think every member has the best interests of the city as a whole in mind without the influence of special interests. I wish them all successful three or five year terms.

Posted by William Bramble,
a resident of San Ramon,
on Dec 17, 2013 at 3:18 pm

Posted by ,William Bramble a resident of San Ramon
on Dec 11, 2013 at 4:19 pm

Livingstone just can't help himself. All those decades of civic service.... and his closing remarks are primarily focused on chastising council members for listening to their constituents? He only displayed his complete ignorance of the facts! Norris HOV Ramps were not designed to relieve traffic in San Ramon on Bollinger or Crow Canyon. If you read the Ballot Measure for Measure J, it states the goals of Norris HOV lanes as being to improve traffic flows on I-680, and improve bus times by reducing weaving for the buses. Livingstone's buddy, Hudson, always like to put it in the voters faces that "you all voted for this". Nothing in the ballot measure mentioned reducing traffic on San Ramon streets. Now, all of a sudden, Livingstone is a transportation expert? Building a Costco and building a new HOV bridge that is not needed, are TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ISSUES! So, any time a group of citizens comes out in force to oppose something, according to Livingstone, council members are supposed to ignore the citizenry and do whatever the @#$* they want. Way to "go out in style" Mr. Livingstone! The shame is on you. Apparently your bread is buttered by a select few who you are (were) beholden to.

Posted by William Bramble,
a resident of San Ramon,
on Dec 17, 2013 at 3:23 pm

Posted by William Bramble, a resident of San Ramon
on Dec 11, 2013 at 5:49 pm

No argument from me on Costco. I moved here in 1992, and it was already there (I think)and if it wasn't there, I would have supported it as I am fully aware of the tax dollars it generates. I also did not oppose the Walmart grocery store in South San Ramon. I shop there and at Costco all the time, and quite frankly, I do not notice any traffic issues at either location. My point was that Livingstone is trying to tell the remaining council members to not listen to opposition from residents and make their decisions in a vacuum. If that is the objective, then what is the purpose of public comment at council meetings? Livingstone is why the council has a bad reputation for operating on an island devoid of public input. I'm not one of the "anti-developer" "tree-hugging" crowd. Anyone who truly studies the CCTA documents relating to the Norris HOV Ramps, will quickly learn that this project is the next "bridge to nowhere"! We read documents, we are educated, we are organized and we will not have this monstrosity slipped in under our noses.

Posted by Long time resident,
a resident of San Ramon,
on Dec 17, 2013 at 3:28 pm

Posted by Long time resident, a resident of San Ramon
on Dec 14, 2013 at 3:59 pm

I agree with Mr. Bramble. Mr. Livingstone\\\'s parting advice for the city council to ignore input from San Ramon\\\'s concerned citizens is the height of arrogance. Clearly it is a good thing that Livingstone is no longer on the council. It is the job of city council members to listen to the citizens concerns. If a resident goes to the trouble to go to a city council meeting and speak, there\\\'s likely a lot of other citizens with similar concerns, and the council needs to listen. The council works for us, the residents, it should not have it\\\'s own agenda that is contrary to the will of the citizens.

Some on the council might feel that once they get elected that they can do almost anything they want----and they might be able to get away with it for a while----after all San Ramon is a "hotbed of apathy" (only 21% even bothered to vote in the last election & many residents are so busy working hard to pay their high mortgages that they don\\\'t take time to follow local politics. I think it must be made clear to the council and the mayor, that they must take seriously input from the residents, otherwise they could be recalled or voted out of office.

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